TALK Irving Finkel and Peter Hotez
JOIN US FOR THE LAST EVENT ON THE AL-ANDALUS SERIES
The Scribe & The Scientist: How an Ancient Script Shaped Modern Health
Ancient medicine has a surprisingly long life and the story is more exciting than you might imagine! Even after cuneiform writing disappeared, the healing knowledge of Babylon didn’t vanish. Instead, it traveled, popping up in Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac traditions along the way.
We welcome you to join Assyriologist Irving Finkel and virologist Peter Hotez for an image-filled talk that follows a journey across centuries and cultures. Together, they will explore and discuss the hidden history of medical transmission. You’ll see how Babylonian ideas influenced famous figures like Hippocrates, found their way into the Babylonian Talmud, and even shaped the work of the renowned Jewish physicians of the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Explore how these ancient insights made their way to Europe—and how they still echo in medicine today. It’s a fascinating story of ideas that refused to be forgotten.
FREE ADMISSION
Congregation Emanu El
1500 Sunset Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005
All participants must register
At Congregation Emanu El, we strive to build a culture of Sacred Belonging where every individual feels seen, included, and valued and knows that they are created in the image of God.
We embrace the spark of the Divine in people of all ages, abilities, races, ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientations. We strive to offer accessible experiences by speaking to multiple learning styles and engaging families of all configurations. We joyfully invite the full participation of Jews of all backgrounds as well as interfaith and multi-heritage families.
Our community is made up of people with a broad spectrum of experiences, religious beliefs, ritual practices, and political orientations. We welcome discussion and dialogue because, at Emanu El, we believe that our diversity is an opportunity for inspired creativity.
EXHIBIT The Golden Age of the Jews of al-Andalus
We invite you to the Grand Opening of the exhibition "La Edad de Oro de los Judíos de Al-Andalus" │ The Golden Age of the Jews of Al-Andalus
This exhibition journeys back to a remarkable era in medieval Spain, a period defined by Convivencia, or "coexistence." For centuries, Al-Andalus served as a unique crossroads where Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities lived side-by-side, fostering an unprecedented flourishing of philosophy, science, poetry, and art.
FREE ADMISSION
Julia Ideson Building, Map Room │550 McKinney St. Houston, TX
YOUTUBE TALK: Toledo - Innovation Hub of the Medieval World
YOU TUBE VIDEO Toledo - Innovation Hub of the Medieval World
Toledo was the vibrant intellectual crucible of medieval Europe, where the sophisticated craftsmanship and analytical rigor of the Islamic world met the European West, so famous that Chaucer was even aware of its brilliance!
As a preeminent center for the design and production of scientific instruments, the city acted as a vital bridge for mathematical and astronomical knowledge. Within its workshops, artisans collaborated across cultural boundaries, refining the tools necessary to map the stars, calculate time, and navigate the seas.
Toledo transformed ancient theoretical knowledge into the practical, precision tools that would eventually ignite the scientific advancements of the Renaissance.
Presented by Dr. Sara Ann Knutson
Director of Medieval Studies, University of British Columbia
The Aga Khan Museum
Ancient Games Tournament
The Book of Games depicting a Jew and a Muslim playing chess. Commissioned by Alfonso X and completed in his scriptorium in Toledo in 1283. From the collection of Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo, El Escorial
Ancient Games Tournament
Join us at Levy Park to test your skills in 5,000 years of exciting challenges of games from around the world.
Compete against friends and foes, cheer on your favorite participants, and immerse yourself in the thrill of ancient competition. Costumes are highly encouraged, so don your best outfit from around the world or through time.
Don't miss out on this epic event that promises fun, camaraderie. Grab your gear and prepare for a day of adventure at the Ancient Games Tournament!
Food from around the world creates an immersive cultural experience for the whole family!
FREE ADMISSION
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 10am-3pm. Levy Park | 3801 Eastside Street, Houston, TX 77098
Talk & Sensory Tour: Art and Science Mingle in the Medieval Gardens of al-Andalus
TALK AND SENSORY TOUR The Pleasure Gardens of al-Andalus
Art, science, and nature converged in the medieval Islamic pleasure gardens of al-Andalus. This engaging program delves into how landscape, architecture, and water worked together to create spaces that were both sustainable and beautiful.
Explore the diversity of herbs and spices that were cultivated in the gardens of al-Andalus and learn how the circulation of information across the medieval world supported great innovations in horticultural knowledge..
Following the presentation, join Hermann Park Conservancy staff for a stroll through McGovern Centennial Gardens to see how the timeless principles of al-Andalus continue to inspire and shape modern landscapes today.
FREE ADMISSION
McGovern Centennial Gardens, Hermann Park
5pm-7pm
1500 Hermann Dr, Houston, TX 77004
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Presented by Prof. Sara Ann Knutson
Assistant Professor of Teaching | Chair of UBC Medieval Studies Program
Faculty of Arts | Department of History
The University of British Columbia
LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. SARA ANN KNUTSON - https://www.baytalfann.com/post/preserving-the-past-for-the-future-dr-sara-ann-knutson
In Grateful Partnership
CONCERT. Sueños de al-Ándalus
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Poetry Reading: Los Poemas de Tres Culturas
Courtesy of Al-Andluz Project
POETRY EVENT Poemas de Tres Culturas
Is it poetry? Is it music? It is an enchanting immersive journey into the soul of medieval Iberia.
Authentic medieval instruments accompany Houston performers to present an evening intertwining mystical, spiritual, and secular works celebrating Convivencia: a unique historical moment when Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions converged to create a vibrant culture.
In addition, an exhibit will be on view that is created by the Spanish Government. “The Golden Age of Judaism in al-Andalus” that tells the story of Judaism in medieval Spain on a series of 28 panels.
The Al-Andaluz Project musicians accompany readings by Houstonians of poetry from medieval al-Andalus era.
FREE ADMISSION
March 25, 2026, 7:30pm
Location information will be shared upon registration
All attendees must register to attend.
In Grateful Partnership
LIVE YOUTUBE The Lyrics of Al-Andalus
Wikimedia Commons
LIVE YOUTUBE The Lyrics of al-Andalus: Wine, Desire, the Garden, and Love of God
Poetry was arguably the outstanding manifestation of the culture of al-Andalus. It held a potent aesthetic appeal to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike.
Through discussion of exemplary poems, this talk will explore the thematic range of spellbinding Andalusian Arabic and Hebrew lyrics on human and divine love, the beauty of nature, the pleasures of wine, and poems of praise and lament.
FREE ADMISSION
Sun Mar 8, 2026, 3pm
This talk will be recorded for placement on the Archaeology Now YouTube Channel. Participants in the live broadcast have the opportunity to interact with the speaker.
In Grateful Partnership
ARCHITECTURE TOUR. Spain Meets Houston
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TALK: The Alhambra Revealed
iStock
TALK The Alhambra Revealed
Famed as a world heritage monument, the Alhambra is more than a stunning palace—it is a "paradise on earth" built by the Nasrid dynasty.
Explore how 13th-century artists and engineers combined water, light, and intricate geometry to create a timeless masterpiece where blend of Islamic and Jewish influences might be seen. From the serene Court of the Lions to the "talking walls" covered in poetry, this event will reveal archaeological and architectural marvels behind the legends of the Alhambra.
Appropriately, this talk is held at the new Ismaili Center whose architects translate enduring ideas from the Muslim world through contemporary craft, creating a space that feels rooted in tradition yet relevant.
Sr. Fernando Martínez Ávila, Director, Department of Archaeology, Alhambra & Generalife is presenting this talk.
Fernando Martínez Ávila
Free Admission
Talk: 7:00 pm
Iftar Reception: 6:15 pm
The Ismaili Center Houston
2323 Allen Pkwy
Enter at 2290 W Dallas St
This talk is presented in grateful collaboration with the Ismaili Center Houston, the Spanish Consulate of Houston, the Spain US Chamber of Commerce, Casa de Espana, and the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce .
LIVE YOUTUBE: An Islamic Medieval Megacity
iStock
Discover a medieval Islamic megacity (Córdoba/Madinat al-Zahra) in
al-Andalus Spain where power, wealth, and cultural innovation attracted poets, scholars, artisans, and diplomats from across the world.
With no equal in Europe for centuries, the archaeology of this city reveals its monumental architecture, sophisticated urban planning, and the splendor of the western Umayyad caliphate.
Dr. Rafael Blanco Guzmán, Professor of Art History and Archaeology at the Universidad de Córdoba gives this talk.
FREE ADMISSION
3:00pm
Live YouTube
This talk will be recorded for placement on the Archaeology Now YouTube Channel. Participants in the live broadcast have the opportunity to interact with the speaker.
In Grateful Partnership
TALK. From Madinat al-Zahra to the Alhambra: Palace/Fortress/City
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INTERACTIVE EVENING. al-Andalus, Medieval Islamic Spain: Three Faiths, One Culture
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.